Paddy Pimblett won’t be fighting for a title anytime soon if it’s up to Islam Makhachev.
The former UFC lightweight champion was asked about who he expects Ilia Topuria—who claimed the 155-pound title in Makhachev’s absence—to defend against next and while he sees “El Matador” as having several good options, including Arman Tsarukyan and Justin Gaethje, Pimblett isn’t one of them.
“I feel Arman has to be next because this guy deserves it,” Makhachev told ESPN. “He did a mistake when he was supposed to fight with me. He was injured, he did not come to weigh in, but he’s still No. 1 in the division and he have to fight for the title.
“Maybe Arman, maybe Gaethje, but not Paddy, for sure.”
Makhachev was supposed to fight Tsarukyan at UFC 311 this past January, but Tsarukyan withdrew due to a back injury and was replaced at the last-minute by Renato Moicano, who Makhachev submitted inside of a round. The following May, Makhachev officially announced a move to welterweight to challenge Jack Della Maddalena, with that bout now scheduled for UFC 322 on Nov. 15.
Topuria, after vacating a featherweight title, knocked out Charles Oliveira at UFC 317 to win the lightweight belt, and afterwards was confronted by Pimblett inside the octagon. Dana White has not announced plans for a Topuria vs. Pimblett fight, and despite Pimblett owning a 7-0 UFC record, Makhachev is on the same page as the UFC CEO.
“Paddy beat who?” Makhachev said. “Tony Ferguson? Who else he beat? [Michael] Chandler? Everybody beat Chandler.”
“He can do some things, but I don’t see a big chance,” Makhachev said of Pimblett’s skill set. “I don’t know, maybe, honestly it’s not a big challenge for Topuria. Arman is a really big deal. If he beats Arman, because Arman has good skills striking, wrestling, grappling, he’s a good fighter. Paddy, nobody checked Paddy before.”
Makhachev is currently fully focused on Della Maddalena, but as long as he and Topuria are within one weight class of one another, fans will speculate on a potential superfight between the rivals. That talk is fine for Makhachev, who hasn’t closed the door on settling the score with Topuria, especially given the potential magnitude of the contest.
“Now I don’t know who’s going to be next for Ilia,” Makhachev said. “If you’re talking about our fight, I have a good fight now and I know he’s going to fight soon and we’ll see what’s going to happen. He wants to fight at the White House and I also want to be there.”
“For the MMA community, it’s going to be a big fight,” he added. “People want this fight and if UFC wants this fight, then we can do this. … I know UFC wants to do some big fight in White House. Which fight is going to be bigger than this?”
